1. Why and when do people conform?

• the tragedy at Jonestown
• conformity – a change in behavior due to the real or imagined influence of others

a. Informational social influence – Schachter and Singer’s study

• ambiguous situations
• crisis situations
• experts as a source of influence

b. Normative social influence – the need to be accepted; the Asch experiment revisited; Social Impact Theory

• group size
• importance of group
• group coherence

c. Compliance

d. Obedience to authority – Milgram’s study

2. Undue influences on critical thinking

a. Anonimity

b. Reciprocity

c. Group pressure

d. Ideology

e. Sleep deprivation

f. Shyness